Thanksgiving

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south.

They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses;
And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

~ Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
~ For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron, because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the Most High:
Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help.

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands asunder.

~ Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
~ For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

Fools because of their transgression and because of their iniquities are afflicted.
Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.He sent his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.

~ Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
~ And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters:
These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths; their soul is melted because of trouble.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.

Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

~ Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
~ Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; a fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings;
And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation, and sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly, and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

Again, they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
Yet he setteth the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.

The righteous shall see it, and rejoice; and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

~~Psalm 107

This psalm is so many things in one: a record of God’s saving power to bring the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land; praise for his work in bringing each one of his children out of the darkness and despair of sin into the light of his salvation in Christ; a description of his providence through all of life; and an invitation to all who find themselves in darkness and the shadow of death, in trouble or distress, longing and hungry souls, tossed by the tempests of life. Call to God in your distress, and he will answer and save you out of your troubles. I know that this is true.